Bruce Vento Regional Trail Improvement Overview
The Bruce Vento Regional Trail corridor is 13 miles in length and extends from the east side of downtown Saint Paul to the north county line at County Road J in Ramsey County. The southern seven-mile segment of the regional trail was completed in 2005 from downtown Saint Paul to Buerkle Road in Ramsey County on former Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railway. The remaining six miles of the trail north of Buerkle Road to County Road J is still undeveloped due to active rail use.
Beginning in 2014, Parks & Recreation launched a series of projects to accommodate trail improvements for long-range plan adjustments, planning and design for sections of the trail north of Buerkle Road (Phase 1 and Phase 2), and to integrate the existing trail section (Larpentur Ave to Buerkle Road) with Purple Line BRT improvements within the regional trail corridor.
These projects are ongoing, but long-term benefits will be achieved for completion of a six-mile major gap in the Regional Bike Transportation Network and United States Bike Route 41 (USBR 41). Ongoing project improvements will provide significant multimodal access for residents within Ramsey County and the State of Minnesota that does not exist today such as reducing significant barriers from heavy industrial/office land use corridors and major transportation routes. These projects will provide critical pedestrian connections to a proposed arterial bus rapid transit project (Rush Line BRT), in addition to connections to the Highway 96 Regional Trail, Lakes Line Regional Trail, South Shore Lake Trail, local trails and future connection to the Hardwood Creek Regional Trail.
Projects
Due to the complexity, Parks & Recreation initiated three separate regional trail projects. Learn more about project details and engagement activities through each individual project's page.
- Bruce Vento Regional Trail Long-Range Plan
- Bruce Vento Trail Extension - Buerkle Road to Hoffman/Highway 61 (Phase 1)
- Bruce Vento Regional Trail Extension - Whitaker Street to County Road J (Phase 2)
Funding
Approximately $960,000 has been received to date for design activities through Parks and Trails Legacy Amendment funds. Construction funding has only been secured for the Phase 1 extension.
Overall project goals
1. Complete an updated master plan for the Bruce Vento Regional Trail.
- Identify a preferred trail alignment for sections north of Buerkle Road.
- Additional trail amenities.
- Trailhead development.
- Wayfinding improvements.
- Identify recreation opportunities.
- Public art.
- Culturally significant areas.
- Endangered wildlife areas.
- Identify potential acquisition opportunities.
2. Complete extension of trail from Buerkle Road to County Road J.
- Provide main trail route for USBR 41 through Ramsey County.
- Provide trail connections to communities through the regional trail corridor.
- Host additional community engagement meetings to seek input and design options.
- Amend the Bruce Vento Regional Trail Master Plan to illustrate trail improvements, and trail re-alignment from Larpenteur Avenue to County Road J.
3. Align with Regional Solicitation Funding and other Federal Funding Opportunities for implementation.
Benefits
- Ongoing completion for a six-mile gap in the Regional and National Trail System.
- Eliminates several barriers and provides a multi-modal trail in an area that does not have facilities.
- Connects two Above Average Population Areas of People of Color and Poverty.
- Provides direct benefits to low income, youth, elderly, and people with disabilities.
- Provides alternate regional trail alignment outside of an active railway.
- Provides connections to other local and regional trail systems.
- Reduces the risk of crashes and conflicts between pedestrian/bikes and vehicles.
- Provides safe access to jobs, retail, schools and recreation opportunities for residents within northern Ramsey County.